Pacific Command Current Affairs - 2019

United States has renamed its oldest and largest stragically important military command US Pacific Command (PACOM) to Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM). The decision was taken in recognition of growing importance of Indian Ocean in US strategic thinking. The Trump administration already has renamed Asia Pacific as Indo-Pacific and identified India as one bookend of the region.

Key Facts

At present, US Pacific Command is responsible for all US military activity in greater Pacific region. It has about 375,000 civilian and military personnel assigned to its area of responsibility, which also includes India. Now renamed INDOPACOM will now extend its reach from Pacific Ocean to Indian Ocean Region.

INDOPACOM will help US to stand by its Pacific and Indian Ocean allies and partners and support their sovereign decisions for maintaining regional stability and in turn critical to global peace. The renaming does not to account to additional assets for the region at this time. But it recognizes India’s increasing military relevance for US for countering Chinese economic and military pressure in the region.